Cleaning implement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning implements face difficulties in inserting a cleaning part deep into minute gaps due to fluffing issues with fiber-based designs and insufficient insertability with elastomer-based designs, especially when adjusting the insertion direction is necessary and space is limited.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning implement featuring a shaft part with a flexible design and an elastomer-based cleaning part with a guide part that projects outward to facilitate easy insertion, allowing the guide part to be elastically deformed and the shaft part to be flexurally deformed, enabling the cleaning part to be inserted deeper into the gap without needing frequent adjustments in posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fiber-based cleaning part is used, then the cleaning part can be easily manufactured, but the surface of the cleaning part fluffs up during repeated use making it difficult to insert into minute gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from fiber to elastomer, and optimizes the hardness parameter to 40-90 durometer. This material and parameter change eliminates the fluffing problem while maintaining ease of manufacture through molding processes, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and insertability into minute gaps.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the shaft part is made rigid for stability, then the cleaning implement maintains its shape, but it cannot be flexurally deformed to allow easy insertion into narrow spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft part is designed with local quality differentiation: the insertion end section has lower rigidity to enable flexural deformation and navigation into narrow spaces, while the base end section maintains higher rigidity for stability and control. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between shape stability and flexural deformability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the insertability of the cleaning part into minute gaps by allowing the guide part to guide the cleaning part into the gap, ensuring effective cleaning without the need for frequent adjustments in the insertion direction, particularly beneficial for narrow spaces like between keyboard keys or back teeth.
Implementation Method 1
the guide part has a shape that can be elastically deformed so as to be displaced relative to the insertion end section in the axially perpendicular direction
Implementation Method 2
the shaft part has a shape that can be flexurally deformed so as to allow displacement of the insertion end section relative to the base end section in an axially perpendicular direction
Implementation Method 3
the cleaning part formed by the elastomer does not generate fluffing and effectively removes contamination from minute gaps by friction generated between the cleaning part and the object to be cleaned
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A cleaning implement equipped with: a shaft part (12) having an insertion end section (12a) and a base end section; and a cleaning part comprising an elastomer and capable of cleaning a gap. The shaft part (12) has a shape that can be flexurally deformed so as to allow displacement of the insertion end section (12a) relative to the base end section in the axially perpendicular direction. The cleaning part has a cleaning-part body (22) and a guide part (24) for projecting farther outward in the axial direction than the insertion end section (12a), and guiding the insertion of the cleaning-part body (22) into a gap. The projection dimension (t2) of the guide part (24) from the insertion end section (12a) is equal to or greater than the thickness (t1) of the cleaning-part body (22), and the guide part (24) has a shape that can be elastically deformed so as to be displaced relative to the insertion end section (12a) in the axially perpendicular direction.